Today three men appeared in court for fishing related charges. Belize City residents, Leopold Young and Joe Lauriano were charged with possession of lobsters during the closed season. According to reports, both men were in possession of 294 lobsters last Saturday inside Harry Jones Lagoon. Lobster season closed in February so Young and Lauriano were arrested and charged.
Young pled guilty to the charges, and was handed a noncustodial sentence. He was fined $250 for the offense, plus an additional $25 per lobster, bringing his final fine up to $7600. Young has until May 11th to pay the $250 plus a $5 court fee. He has until the end of July to pay the larger fine, or default and spend 6 months in prison.
After Young pled guilty the prosecution withdrew the charges against Lauriano.
A Corozal fisherman was also charged today. Fociano Copo Jr. was charged for the possession of undersized conchs. Copo was allegedly found with 124 undersized conchs at Hat Caye in the Light House Reef Atoll, last Thursday. He pled guilty in court today, and like Leopold Young, was handed a noncustodial fee. He was fined $250 for the offense, and an additional $25 per conch, which comes up to $3350.
Copo was given until May 11 to pay the $250 and a $5 court fee, and was given until the end of June to pay the remaining $3100 or go to prison for 6 months.
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